CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Dylan Salinas is an energetic 8-year-old boy.
When he was two-years-old he was diagnosed as autistic as well as developmentally delayed.
“He is about a two to three-year-old child in a nine-year-old’s body,” Mikayla Salinas, Dylan’s mother said.
Dylan is non-verbal and can become over stimulated and anxious at times.
His mom says what helps ground him is his love for animals.
“Animals for some reason,” she said. “He is always focused on them.”
When she found out about the non-profit, ‘4 Paws for Ability’ she knew they would be a perfect fit for Dylan.
He would have a dog that would help him navigate the world outside of his home.
“That dog who is train specifically for him will know when to stop at stop signs,” she said. “It will know not to let Dylan in the street. It will become an anchor for him.”
But it comes at a steep price.
“It costs any from $40,000 to $60,000 to train these dogs,” Salinas said.
The family is asked to cover 17,000 of that cost, which isn't easy, so they've created a fundraiser on
mightycause.com or ask people to donate directly to ‘4 Paws for Ability’ in honor of Dylan.
Local family raising money to receive a service dog
The cost of the canine is $17,000